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# AMBIIN
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April 23, 1987
SEQUENCE 001 "THUNDERFOOT'S BIRTH"
~
ANGLE - DARKNESS
A burst of bubbles from below tells us that we are beneath
the surface of a primeval lake. A small salamander floats
up into view. He catches a glimpse of a small, wiggly
shrimp larva, a few yards away. In a burst of bubbles, the
Salamander pursues and gulps the tiny shrimp down.
Satisfied and content with the meal, he swims on to find
another. He is ambushed and nearly eaten, himself, by a
- giant prehistoric pike. The frightened salamander escapes
and joins a small menagerie of fish, frogs, eels, and other
strange water life in their bizarre evolutionary stage.
All slowly wiggle upwards between the stalks of water
plants. ,
ANGLE - UNDERWATER Q P
4 Yo i
Through translucent strands of underwater vegetation, a
large Duckbill (Anatosaurus anouth enters from the surface
above, biting a mouthful of. he ’plants and exits top screen.
Through the dim blue and gfeen underwater luminescence, we
see a procession of sea turtles effortlessly gliding through
the water making graceful, interlacing patterns as they
enter a great, hollow log. ,
ANGLE - ABOVE WATER
Peering from ‘the opening of a hollowed out tree, we watch a
group of small salamanders break the surface of the nearby
water, as they leap into the air in an arc pattern and
vanish into the water again. oo
ANGLE - FOREST
We drift (PAN RIGHT) through a dense, but strangely
defoliated, forest. We hear a distant bellowing (SCREEN
RIGHT) as we linger on a clump of trees next to an open
‘Space. The trees seem to stir. Then two large, apparent
tree trunks step out of the camouflage into the clear. They
are two, gentle-eyed Apatosauruses, sniffing the air,
curious to see what is coming. The bellowing sounds get
louder. ,
CUT TO:
, CONTINUED
2
. ANGLE - ROLLING HILLS AND PLAIN - LATE AFTERNOON |
A herd of Triceratops are migrating over a plain of dried,
dead grass towards the setting sun.
CUT TO:
ANGLE - A LARGE HERD OF ANATOSAURUSES - VOLCANIC LANDSCAPE
A line of migrating Anatosauruses that extends far into the
distance, occasionally being lit by the glow of a nearby
erupting volcano. .-
CUT TO:
ANGLE - EXTERIOR LANDSCAPE
On the distant horizon, under a bright moon, we see the
silhouette of a pathetically smal léherd of three
Apatosauruses. { & :
ASA CUT TO:
MEDIUM SHOT - THE THRER ABATOSAURUSES ON THE MOVE
: g te —
Two of them are elderl , @ male and a female. The third, a
female, is much younger.
CUT TO:
ANGLE - ANATOSAURUS NESTING - MARSH LANDSCAPE
A group of adult Duckbills are feeding on plants. They sit
waiting, next to a small, hollowed out mound, in which lay a.
dozen or so eggs.
ANGLE - CLOSE UP - EGGS
A single egg, rocks and bounces; a tail breaks through the
shell, then a head. It is a tiny, female Anatosaurus
(DUCKY). ,
CUT TO: ©
CLOSER SHOT .
A butterfly flutters up to the nest and catches her
attention, and flutters off. DUCKY, still wearing her
shell, bounces up and leaps off the Pile of eggs.
CUT TO:
CONTINUED >
‘The butterfly flutters (SCRE ut
. to escape the little Anapotedpus, who is bouncing in hot
. ANGLE - TRICERATOPS NEST
WIDE SHOT
The butterfly flutters away. DUCKY rolls down the side of
the nest in pursuit, bouncing and hopping as she goes.
CUT TO:
CLOSER SHOT
DUCKY catches up to the fluttering butterfly and tries to
grab at it, but misses. The butterfly flutters away into a
hollowed out log. DUCKY bounces up and continues the
pursuit. :
CUT TO:
INTERIOR OF LOG
‘6 ae
W.EEFT) quickly forward, trying
pursuit, just behind. 3
7 Sp A,
3, 8s CUT TO: .
= a, ~ -
: - en ee .
END OF HOLLOW Ned
As DUCKY exits the log, she loses the butterfly, and breaks
her shell. She lands on a small, furry rodent that squeaks
_and runs away. This immediately captures DUCKY's attention
and she chases after it. The rodent races by a very big
turtle. Naively, DUCKY stops to inspect, and sticks her
head into the snapping turtle's opening jaws. But, just in
time, she is lifted away before the turtle's jaws snap shut.
CUT TO:
ANGLE - DUCKY'S MOTHER
Holding her baby in her mouth, MAMA ANATOSAURUS places DUCKY
‘back in the nest with her newly-hatched brothers and
‘sisters. Mama leans down and gently nuzzles baby DUCKY.
DUCKY cuddles Mama's bill and nuzzles back.
‘CUT TO:
In the nest are half a dozen eggs in various hatching
Stages. One has four legs coming through the shell and is
running around, butting into the other siblings. It runs
out of the nest, stops, paws the ground, and charges into
its Mother's snout.
CUT TO: |
CONTINUED
CLOSE UP OF NEST ..“* “
Nees?
CLOSER SHOT
~The charging egg bounces back, turns and immediately charges.
into Papa Triceratops. It hits hard and bounces back. The
shell shatters and there sits CERA TOPPS, rubbing her aching
head. A clap of thunder from an approaching storm, scares
-CERA and she scrambles to join her brothers and sisters who
are hiding beneath Mama.
ANGLE ~- A STORMY NIGHT SKY
A bolt of lightning crackles and explodes through the dark,
stormy sky.
CUT TO:
ANGLE - APATOSAURUS NEST - MARSH LANDSCAPE
Amidst a gentle shower, thri apatosauruses wait patiently.
PAN to their nearby nest RSS ng a single egg.
oe ws
‘S :
CUT TO:
“EX
<<
W
Ne
de.
ey
One surviving egg, “lying in a nest, littered with the
remains of smashed and cracked eggshells. The egg is
bouncing and rocking. It isa tough birth. The egg hops
clear out of the nest and rolls down the nesting mound to
the shallow water by its Mama's tail. .
= CUT TO:
WIDE SHOT - MAMA'S TAIL AND ORNITHOMIMUS
A bug-eyed, long-fingered Ornithomimus appears from out of |
the bush and leers hungrily at the vulnerable egg.
Suddenly, he leaps towards it.
CUT TO:
CLOSE UP OF EGG AMIDST MARSH REEDS
Long, bony, clawed fingers enter and snatch the egg up.
CUT TO:
‘MAMA WATCHING
While running away with the egg, the Ornithomimus is struck.
. from behind by the Mother's powerful neck, jarring the
precious egg from the interloper's hands. The Ornithomimus
Streaks off in one direction; the egg bounces and rolls down
the hill, skipping over the rib-bones of a dinosaur carcass.
CONTINUED _
ooo
5
Hitting limbs and flowers, it rolls down branches and sends
startled lizards scampering. It half-rolls, half-floats
‘down a shallow rivulet, is carried over the edge of a steep
waterfall. It falls into a bed of soft sand and twigs,
sending more wiggling, little creatures running. It lays
suspiciously still and lifeless. Mother enters and very
gently nudges it with her nose. a
As the Mother, Grandmother and Grandfather hover
‘breathlessly over the apparently, lifeless egg, it begins to
crack. Pieces of the shell explode and out pops a wagging
tail, followed by two hind legs that wiggle their way out of
the disintegrating egg. And then we see the face of our
hero, THUNDERFOOT. He is peering backwards through his
legs. He looks quite bewildered. (What i§ “this world he has
just been born into?) — Nga
enh
THUNDERFOOT sits up and grins. Hearihg;"the approving coo of
his Mother, he glances up. An immediate look of innate love
passes between them. When Mother’begins to lower her head
(THUNDERFOOT POV) for a close \in¥pection of her offspring,
baby THUNDERFOOT rocks backward in fear, unsure of what she
plans to do with him. He buries his head to protect. himself
as Mother unfurls her enormous tongue and gives her baby a
loving lick. THUNDERFOOT curiously raises his head (That
felt kind of nice). Mother does it again. THUNDERFOOT
marches closer and returns the favor, planting a loving lick
on the edge of Mother's nose.
Grandmother and Grandfather look to one another, beaming
proudly. Grandmother nods her approval ‘and gazes back down
at baby THUNDERFOOT.
, CUT TO:
CLOSE UP OF THUNDERFOOT CLINGING TO MAMA'S SNOUT
THUNDERFOOT is startled by two small creatures who eye him
curiously. The frightened THUNDERFOOT climbs down and
scurries around behind his Mother's front leg.
THUNDERFOOT glances around to see many more creatures coming
out of the tall space to pay their respects to this new
arrival, the last Apatosaurus. They stand in reverential
clusters, checking him out, whispering and gossiping among
themselves about their new neighbor.
CUT TO:
THUNDERFOOT AT FOOT OF MOTHER
THUNDERFOOT snuggles closer to Mother and yawns. A small
‘lizard scampers up to watch the sleepy-eyed baby.
THUNDERFOOT is startled by this and notices a few more
curious creatures closing in on him. He slowly backs up and
CONTINUED
eto
é
breaks into a run (SCREEN LEFT) but not quite able to
‘ coordinate his feet yet, he trips and rolls to a stop.
The creatures catch up to him and assemble around, just as-
Mother bends her long neck and picks THUNDERFOOT up by the
loose skin between his shoulder blades. .
| CUT TO:
CREATURES' POV OF THUNDERFOOT
THUNDERFOOT giggles as he is raised higher and higher.
. . CUT TO:
DOWN SHOT - OVERHEAD OF MOTHER HOLDING THUNDERFOOT
After gazing down at the gathering of small animals below,
THUNDERFOOT looks up lovingly at his Mother and smiles.
CUT TO:
LONG SHOT OF MOTHER, GRANDP rs, THUNDERFOOT AND
ASSEMBLY OF PREHISTORIC ANT MALS" ;
CX. oo ,
Mother swings her head sbdwly around and over her back, as
both Grandparents watch proudly.
IN
a me CUT TO:
CLOSE UP_ OF MOTHER'S BACK
Mother gently: lowers THUNDERFOOT onto the back of her neck.
He slides down and begins to trounce around and around (like
a dog trying to find a comfortable spot). He nuzzles down
in the soft skin between his Mother's shoulder blades.
Mother's head comes closer.
MOTHER ,
Be gentle, you little Thunderfoot.
- ‘THUNDERFOOT looks up through sleepy eyes and manages a
droopy smile.
Grandmother and Grandfather move in closer to their daughter
to get a more intimate view of their only heir.
THUNDERFOOT finally settles in, nuzzZzling up against her
neck. He emits a giant yawn, and then a contented bleat
that sounds remarkably like "Mama." His eyes close. .
Mother's head appears in frame and she gazes at him with the
kind of love only a Mother can know.
FADE OUT:
. CONTINUED
oo
f
{
4
“TWO SHOT - GRANDPARENTS
SEQUENCE 002 - "THE TREE STAR"
FADE IN:
FIVE YEARS LATER - WIDE SHOT, MEADOW FULL OF HERDS
(LATE AFTERNOON)
‘ANGLE - THE APATOSAURUSES IN A COPSE OF DENUDED PINE TREES
THUNDERFOOT'S doting Mother and Grandparents are breaking >
off high branches with sparse sprigs of pine needles.
THUNDERFOOT chews these like a kid eating spinach.
THUNDERFOOT
(chewing, mouth full)
Mother, is this all there is to eat?
. MOTHER
I'm sorry, dear, the land has been —
changing.
a 2
| ce)
ANGLE - WIDER SHOT Se _
Mother moves into cathedral~like setting of non-pine trees.
THUNDEFOOT follows. a aN
%y
MOTHER
# (continued)
That is why we must walk as far as we
_ Can. each day...until we reach the
Great Valley.
(Gasp)
Thunderfoot..:.look, a tree star!
Mother extends her long neck up, reaching up into the apex
of the arched trees, to reach for one lone leaf at the end
of a barren branch. And what a leaf it is! It's large, ;
star shaped and a bright luminescent green. Mother lays it -
gently at THUNDERFOOT'S feet.
THUNDERFOOT
(excited)
A tree star!
He happily rubs his face against it, nuzzles it, licks it,
and thoroughly enjoys it.
CUT TO:
They chuckle, bemused by the young Apatosaurus' delight.
CONTINUED
CUT TO: |
WIDE SHOT - MOTHER LEADS THUNDERFOOT AND GRANDPARENTS
TOWARD THE SETTING SUN
MOTHER
The Great Valley is filled with green
food like this. More than you could
“ever. eat, and more fresh cool water
than you could ever drink. It isa
wonderful, beautiful place where we
can live happily With more of our own
kind.
THUNDERFOOT
(awe inspired)
Gee! When will we get there?
WIDE SHOT
Mama leads THUNDERFOOT from the tree setting onward towards
the glowing setting sun.
2 mee} . (
The bright SES mu ae s“over us
many tim =i bid we i follow
fol llowslt @ach day to where it
touches the ground.
CUT TO:
TWO SHOT. - 3/4 REAR MOTHER WITH THUNDERFOOT BELOW TAIL
THUNDERFOOT
Mother, have you ever seen the Great
Valley?
MOTHER
No.
THUNDERFOOT screws up his face like a confused puppy.
THUNDERFOOT
Well...how do you know it's really
there? ,
MOTHER
Some things you see with your eyes;
others you see with your heart.
THUNDERFOOT
I don't understand, Mother.
‘CONTINUED
9
MOTHER
(smiling)
You will.
She nudges the tree star leaf towards him (he'd almost
forgotten about it). He opens his mouth wide to take a big
healthy bite but, is suddenly distracted by a playful,
female giggle (OFFSTAGE). It comes from behind a stand of
reeds. THUNDERFOOT goes to investigate, poking his head
through the reeds. , .
ANGLE - CLEARING - CERA TOPPS
She's playful, tomboyish Triceratops, ready to charge
anything and everything to try out her budding horns.
Whenever she charges, she makes a distinctive battle cry.
We will come to know it as her trademark. (When you hear
it, look out! Cera's coming through!)
CERA
(battle cry)
Aaargh!
cam OR 4a
WIDE SHOT 4 BAY
CERA charges her sisters from behind, knocking them over.
THUNDERFOOT reacts gleefully as he observes this aggressive
personality - what a great playmate - he thinks. a
‘CUT TO:
TWO SHOT AS CERA BUTTS INTO HER FATHER'S SNOUT
She is attracted by a small furry prehistoric insect and
bounds playfully after it. The bug is dodging this way and
that. CERA. pursues, allowing nothing to distract her,
crashing right through rocks, knocking herself dizzy. But
he does not give up. At last she corners it against a rock.
The bug flips around, raises its tail, and squirts a yellow
liquid right into CERA'S face.
CUT TO:
CLOSE UP =~ THUNDERFOOT AT REEDS
_THUNDERFOOT giggles at CERA'S predicament.
THUNDERFOOT
(giggles)
CUT TO:
_ CONTINUED
10
MEDIUM CLOSE UP - CERA
CERA stares right at him, then smiles broadly. Charge!
| CUT TO:
REEDS
THUNDERFOOT has emerged from reeds. ‘This is fun! Now
THUNDERFOOT charges CERA, emitting a yell of his own.
THUNDERFOOT
(screams)
CUT TO:
DADDY TOPPS AND MAMA TOPPS
They are startled by an unfamiliar battle cry. They look in
CERA'S and THUNDERFOOT'S direction. Papa wheels and begins
to run in their direction. ,
Bie
‘ ey
sm
ee CUT TO:
aXe ‘ob
TWO SHOT - 3/4 ANGLE - CHILDREN
. . aE wv .
peas % “Bs
Children heading airegtiy, tovara oné another. Just before
THUNDERFOOT reaches CER , his eyes go wide and he skids
frantically to a stop. Daddy Topps has entered scene,
stopping between the two charging children. His huge, ugly,
Sour face is glowering down. THUNDERFOOT skitters backward,
tripping over his own tail. Daddy just nudges CERA away.
7. DADDY TOPPS
Come, Cera, three-horns never Play
with long-necks.
CERA defiantly sticks her tongue out at THUNDERFOOT,
spitting out raspberry noises, as she aggressively forces
THUNDERFOOT to retreat.
CERA
(raspberry noises)
CUT TO:
WIDE SHOT
Before she becomes more obnoxious, Daddy Topps and Mama —
.. Apatosaurus Separate the children by lifting them by their
tails, high into the air, and walking in opposite
directions.
CUT TO:
CONTINUED
il
MEDIUM CLOSE UP - MAMA WITH THUNDEREOOT
THUNDERFOOT
. (to himself)
Long-neck?
THUNDERFOOT, dangling by his tail, pulls himself up onto
Mama' s head.
THUNDERFOOT
(to Mother)
“Mother...what's a long-neck?
“MOTHER -
Why...that's what we are, dear.
| THUNDERFOOT
Ooh.
(Pause)
Shy can't I play with that
three-horn? We were having
3/4 REAR , eo . \ey
Meek 8 |
Mother with THUNDERFOOTon head, continues in direction of
setting sun.
MOTHER |
We all keep to our selves...the
three-horns, the spike tails, the
swimmers, the flyers...we never do
anything together.
THUNDERFOOT
-Why?
CUT TO:
DOWN SHOT (VERTICAL PAN)
Looking down on THUNDERFOOT, Mother and Grandparents as they
trek onward towards the Great Valley. We PAN to reveal a
red, setting sun.
MOTHER
(laugh)
Don't worry, when we reach the Great
Valley, there will be many, many
long~necks for you to play with.
THUNDERFOOT
(bored)
I. wish we were there now.
CONTINUED
his special tree star as a pillow.
12
, MOTHER
Well, it's a long way yet...past the
great rock that looks like a
long-neck and past the mountains that
burn...a very long way. Once there
you'll hardly remember the journey.
As she says this, in background, six different species of
dinosaur travel toward the sun together.
FADE OUT:
SEQUENCE 003 "FROG IN THE MUD"
ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT, MOTHER AND GRANDPARENTS
A dragonfly enters in the camera and flies quickly over to
THUNDERFOOT who is sleeping beside his Mother. He is using
Ye hear the ribbet of a
frog. The dragonfly flutters too feNexe to the frog: he
snaps up the dragon fly, hops anim ately in front of
wees
ANGLE THUNDERFOOT AND FROG
The frog has landed and curious Thunderfoot enters behind
him. Suddenly Cera comes between Thunderfoot and his
quarry, objecting.
; CERA
Go away, that's my hopper!
THUNDERFOOT
I saw him first.
CERA
He's in my pond.
Cera wheels around and chases after the hopper. Skidding
down a muddy slope into a marsh, Cera bumps into the hopper,
who disappears into the muddy water. Thunderfoot slides
‘down the same slope and collides with Cera.
‘EXT. MARSH
The frog disappears below the Swampy surface. A bubble
erupts with a "ribbet." Cera goes splashing into the water
attacking the bubble. It bursts. A few feet away, another .
large bubble erupts. (Each successive bubble, is
‘CONTINUED
13
accompanied by a "ribbet.") Cera dives after the bubbles,
Making a frolicking game of it. Thunderfoot watches a
moment before leaping into the swamp to join her. The frog
peers up from below the surface and we see his face
reflected through one of the bubbles. As the bubble
inflates, the view of the Frog's face stretches, growing
- More and more distorted until it pops.
The two young dinosaurs leap about in the mud. Popping the
bubbles, splashing, having a great deal of fun. They chase
the frog to the far side of the swamp where they are hidden
in the shade of an enormous tree. an
WIDE ANGLE - ENORMOUS HOLLOW TREE
On the edge of the swamp, a dark shadow falls across the
rock as the oblivious youngsters continue to play. The
shadow grows bigger, more ominous. We, dar a bellowing
roar. | a Qo of
. . \ \ \ :
CuT To:
THE SWAMP FLOOR
ANGLE - CLOSE UP - REX'S FOOT
The Rex'’s foot splashes down into the mud, shaking the earth
as a deafening roar cuts across the Swamp and into the ears
of the children.
CUT TO:
TWO SHOT ~ THUNDERFOOT AND CERA
The children panic as they feel the vibration and hear the
approaching Rex. The frog game is over. CERA and
THUNDERFOOT look around in terror for the location of the
beast. | 7
CUT TO:
LOW ANGLE - SWAMP - REX'S FEET
He is coming towards them with pounding strides.
CUT TO:
CONTINUED
14
LOW ANGLE - BENEATH TREE
The youngsters cry out and begin to splash through the swamp
as fast as their clumsy feet will take them. Reverse! Run!
The foot of the Rex crushes into the swamp.
ANGLE - DOWN SHOT
The twosome scramble into the hollow tree.
ANGLE -
Now inside the hollow tree, ‘CERA and THUNDERFOOT search
among the brittle branches for safety.
ANGLE - UPSHOT - INSIDE HOLLOW me
The eye, that horrible eye, isi ring down from above.
They're discovered! The entingyh ead splits the tree apart
as gaping jaws snap down upon them.
Gs ,
ANGLE - BASE OF | sofQon YeEe
By ye
CERA and THUNDERFOOT fall into swamp mud, first THUNDERFOO?,
then CERA.
ANGLE - TREE BRAMBLES ~ 3/4 DOWN SHOT
CERA and THUNDERFOOT spot a small opening in the thicket
that could provide a refuge from the still- -advancing Rex.
CUT TO:
WIDE SHOT (PAN RIGHT)
The Rex is right on their heels. No sooner have the
children entered the brambles, than the Rex's head smashes
through, ripping, tearing, spitting hot breath on
THUNDERFOOT'S tail.
ANGLE - MEDIUM CLOSE UP - THUNDERFOOT
~Caught in the thorns, he tugs to free himself. Snap! He-
lunges forward releasing the branch, unwittingly letting it)
snap right into the Rex's eye.
Blackness, momentarily, fills the screen as we hear the
Rex's enraged shriek of pain and surprise.
CONTINUED
Trembling, struggling<to\
15
ANGLE - UPSHOT - THE REX
Now more furious than ever, he dives at the brambles and
begins ripping them away, hell-bent on revenge. After a few
beats, he realizes he has lost the kids. He straightens up
and gazes around. His wounded eye is already swollen shut.
He takes a moment to think, to consider his next move. He
slowly stalks through the brambles, sniffing and sleuthing
about.
ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT AND CERA
Cowering in the thicket; they are under the densest part of
the brush. The shadow of the Rex falls over them.
CUT TO:
CLOSE UP ON REX
He is getting closer and closer to ww e camouflaged. kids, but
has not yet spotted them.
alo”
ot
Ys,
_ ANGLE - CLOSE UP - THUNDERFOOT AND CERA
E cee
avoid detection, CERA begins
running silently toa WSeper part of the brambles. |
THUNDERFOOT chases abter.
ANGLE - THE REX
Tipped off to: their whereabouts, he becomes fully enraged
once more. He dives back into the bramble, ripping it away,
exposing the children, and moves in for the kill, when
suddenly.. -Whap! He gets hit upside the head by
THUNDERFOOT' S Mother' s whiplike tail. He reels off balance.
ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT AND CERA
Race out of danger, as they spot Mother, and run to safety
beneath her legs. ‘
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE. 004.1 "THE FIGHT"
"MEDIUM SHOT
A stunned Rex, on his back, against a large boulder.
Enraged he gets up and turns his attention to THUNDERFOOT' s
Mother. ,
CONTINUED
16 .
ANGLE = THREE SHOT - MOTHER, THUNDERFOOT AND CERA
Mother warns THUNDERFOOT
MOTHER
Run, Thunderfoot!
CUT TO:
ONCOMING REX
Charging toward the Mother. Apatosaurus, eager for a worthy
opponent, confident of the kill.
ANGLE = TWO SHOT - MOTHER AND REX
Squaring off to do battle. Mother dodges
him by rearing up.
ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT AND CERB.
Avoid being crushed under} Mother’ s feet as she recovers from
the parlay. oe
ANGLE - REX
Once again, he lunges at Mother. His gapping jaws snap
shut.
ANGLE - TWO. SHOT - MOTHER AND REX
Again, Mother dodges, Sidestepping and slapping with her
tail.
ANGLE =~ REX
Crashes against the cliff with a thud, and explosion of
rocks.
. CUT To:
LOW ANGLE - AT MOTHER'S RUNNING FEET
. CERA and THUNDERFOOT run beneath Mother to escape the grisly
beast.
ANGLE. - UPSHOT - THE REX
Leaps high into the air to catch his prey on her back. (He
intends to bite into the neck.)
CONTINUED
17
CUT TO:
CLOSE UP - MOTHER |
Reacts to the death bite. Much of the ensuing fight is
Played out in darting silhouettes against the canyon wall.
CUT TO:
TWO SHOT - CERA AND THUNDERFOOT
Reacting to the Rex on Mother's back. The shadow of this
horror is seen on the wall of the cliffs behind them.
Children run off as Mother enters scene escaping from Rex,
and crashes through several rock barriers. Rex in hot
pursuit. Mother gets in another good blow with her tail.
Rex crashes to the ground, impact causing a tidal wave of
mud. ,
MEDIUM SHOT - CHILDREN
Mud wave carries the two to the...
WIDE SHOT:
Once again, the dinosaurs square off. The Rex's jaw bends
down towards the earth. ,
CUT To:
ANGLE - LOW
CERA and THUNDERFOOT duck into a crevice to avoid the Rex's
gapping mouth as it passes over. ,
CUT TO:
- ANGLE - MOTHER
Renewed in her will to protect her son, Mother hits the Rex
in the belly, knocking him down, fully.
ANGLE - MOTHER, CERA AND THUNDERFOOT
Scramble through a canyon to escape.
CUT TO:
CONTINUED
column of rock explodes in £
18
_ SEQUENCE 004A "THE EARTHQUAKE"
ANGLE - CLOSE =- GROUND LEVEL
The earth begins to shake. ‘Slowly, at first, but rapidly
building into a reverberating rumble. A small crack opens
then grows; then changes into a large fissure, ripping the
earth open. Rocks and plants fall into the expanding pit.
‘The noise is overwhelming.
ANGLE - MEDIUM CLOSE UP - CERA AND THUNDERFOOT
Hiding among the rocks, react with a different terror now.
ANGLE - REX
is afraid for his own life. He
iPRening. Suddenly, a giant
of him, startling the
beast, knocking him off Rea ar: All around him, the earth
is cracking, breaking up an falling away. ,
Oy
Ss gi
ERFOOT
Has abandoned his quarry. He
whirls around to see what +8
ANGLE - CERA AND Pe
N . - %
Running, trying” ‘te “find someplace to hide.
- ANOTHER ANGLE - WIDER
The Rex is bearing down on them, no longer giving chase, but
simply trying .to escape the dissolving earth. He is
thundering closer to the kids like a steaming locomotive.
In an attempt to get past them, the Rex nearly punts the
fleeing children.
ANGLE - CLOSER ON THUNDERFOOT AND CERA
Another piece of land cracks sending them backwards onto the |
' Rex's foot. The terrified kids find themselves trapped on
their enemy's toes as a burst of steam comes out of the
ground, and then explodes in another major rupture.
_ ANOTHER ANGLE - WIDER
The spewing steam and cracking land send the trio of
dinosaurs sliding backward down the newly formed embankment.
All three of them are slipping and skidding, in grave danger
of being dropped into a deep, dark canyon.
CONTINUED
19
ANGLE =- THUNDERFOOT AND CERA
Spilled to the very edge of the precipice - heading for
certain death. The Rex is sliding towards then. At the
last instant, his tail shoots between their legs; they have
no choice but to climb up on it to keep from getting dumped
into the dark void. Boulders and rocks tumble and bounce
around them. It is only luck that keeps them from being
crushed. _
CUT TO:
CLOSE UP ~- REX
Skidding backwards, trying to hold on, Clawing and
scrambling, fighting for his life.
CUT TO:
THUNDERFOOT'S MOTHER \
Painfully lifting her head seg rock, listening to the
terrified screams of THUNDEREGOT and CERA.
CO
a ;
an ES,
Oe CUT TO:
4
THUNDERFOOT AND CERA
Scampering up the Rex's body to once again cheat death. They
leap over his head. A shower of rocks rains down on them.
They land in front of the Rex's jaws. It seems certain he
will dovour them this time, when...Whap!...The Mother's tail
comes to their rescue.
*
.ANGLE - WIDER
The Rex tumbles into the air, sending the children sailing
up also. The three of them are destined to fall into the
treacherous canyon, when Mother's head comes into frame and
_Snatches the two kids out of mid air.
ANGLE - THE REX
Falling head over heels into the canyon. There is nothing
for him to grab onto, nothing to break his fall. He tumbles
down, down, down into the blackness, screeching as he goes.
CUT TO:
THE OTHER SPECIES OF DINOSAURS
Fleeing for their lives, trying to get to someplace where
the earth isn't trembling. -
CONTINUED
29
ANGLE - CERA
Running to rejoin her family, she races toward them, when a
brand new crack opens in the land. She skids to a halt to
keep from getting dropped into the crevice.
WIDE SHOT - THE AREA
Devastated by the quake. The ever-expanding canyon
separates the majority of the herds from the few remaining
on the side with THUNDERFOOT and Mother. The devastation
and destruction is catacylsmic. Everyone seems slightly
stunned, smoke and steam are rising all round, as the
jostling slowly subsides. :
| CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 005 "DEATH OF MOTHER" CG
elo”
ae
ANGLE - CLOSE UP - THUNDERFOOT
Finally, the earth has\Stopped trembling; gradually, the
aftershocks subside... An unsettling silence blankets the
area. Smoke rises out of burning crevices in the tattered
landscape. Angry looking clouds slam together in the black
sky, starling THUNDERFOOT. Looking around, he realizes he
is all alone. Neither CERA nor his Mother are anywhere in
Sight. It begins to rain. THUNDERFOOT cries out in a
panic. 7 .
THUNDERFOOT
. Mother? Mother..where are you?
His own voice comes echoing back to him, bouncing off the
mountain walls. He begins to run, carefully making his way
through the devastation and fallen debris.
THUNDERFOOT
Mother! ? ,
He runs around a tremendous boulder and stops, horrified.
_ ANGLE - MOHTER - THUNDERFOOT'S POV
Through a veil of falling rain, we see she is stretched out
- on her side. Her breath comes in deep, wheezing gasps and
her eyes are closed.
CONTINUED
21
ANGLE ~ WIDER
THUNDERFOOT cautiously moves toward her, his eyes are wide
with fear. He steps closer unti they are practically nose
to nose, and speaks in a frightened whisper.
ANGLE - CLOSE UP - THUNDERFOOT AND MOTHER
THUNDERFOOT
(firghtened whisper)
Mother?
Mother tries to answer, the only sound that escapes from her
parched lips is a rasping weeze.
MOTHER
(wheezing, weak breathing)
THUNDEREOGR
| (whispered).
Mother, please... .get,aips
Please. « get)
«MOTHER
; (weak‘ahd wheezing)
I'm...not sure, I can, Thunderfoot.
+ gi?
THUNDERFOOT
(frightened, pleading, whisper)
Yes you can.
CUT TO:
WIDE SHOT
Mother struggles in an attempt to get up, but collapses from
lack of strength. There is a sustained frenzy of lightning.
The rain comes down even harder.
_ MOTHER
(weak and wheezing)
Dear little Thunderfoot. Do you
. remember...the way to the Great
Valley? SO
In the driving rain, we can only see them clearly during |
flashes of lightning.
ANGLE - CLOSE UP - THUNDERFOOT
oe THUNDERFOOT
I guess so. But why do I have to
know? You're going to be with me.
CONTINUED
22
MOTHER
: (O.S.)
I'll be with you...even if you can't
see me. .
THUNDERFOOT
That's silly. I can always see you.
MOTHER
I'll be in your heart Thunderfoot.
. Let your heart guide you, it
whispers, so listen carefully.
No answer. Lightning flashes. THUNDERFOOT moves toward
Mother offstage.
CUT TO:
WIDE SHOT a
Through veil of pouring rain, THUNDERFOOF\ SEE close to
Mother. \ 2
o ©\
at
THUNBERFOOT
(whispers)
Mother?...Mother?
ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT
As he moves away, Mother disappears into the rain.
THUNDERFOOT stops by the foot tracks of his Mother, as he. does
so, the falling rain washes them away.
. FADE OUT
SEQUENCE 006 "LITTLE BOY LOST"
CLOSE - ON A LONE BERRY
Hanging from the branch of a tree. “A baby Pterodactyl flies
into frame and plucks the berry, loosing his balance, and.
tumbling backward onto a branch. ‘
ANGLE - WIDER
Other baby Pterodactyls appear. They all become engaged in
mischievous games of hide-and-seek and tag, jostling for
control of the berry. In a lineup, the first Dac herds back
into the hollow tree trunk, only to have the berry snatched
‘£rom his hands by the Dac behind him, and so on, and so on,
down to the last Doc in line, who was the Ccriginal finder of
the berry.
CONTINUED —
23
ANGLE - WIDER ~
We PAN with the baby Dac as he wanders past the entrance to
the hollow tree trunk, down onto the ground near
THUNDERFOOT. Seeing THUNDERFOOT'S sadness, the baby Dac, in
sympathy, offers his treasured berry to the despondent
dinosaur. He pushes it closer and closer, in an attempt to
get THUNDERFOOT to accept the gift. Leaving the berry
behind, the baby Dac wanders off.
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR - DESERT - BIRD'S EYE VIEW
A shimmering, dew-covered tree star flows gently on the
- breeze, finding its way down among the monoliths, searching
for the tiny dinosaur, lost and alone. The spirit of Mother
comes to remind THUNDERFOOT Of his promise to her.
ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT
Snuggling in the impression of ona of Mother's large
footprints. He misses her.) He doesn't understand where she .
has gone. Suddenly, the\ared is illuminated as the tree
star comes to rest in‘the print near him.
ANOTHER ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT
Is glad to see the leaf. As he approaches it, he sees his
reflection in its shiny surface formed by droplets of dew.
The precious gift stirs his memory to recall his Mother's
parting words. He looks up and the clouds form themselves
into a. shape which reminds him of his mother.
MOTHER
(0.S. whispered with wind effect)
Dear little Thunderfoot, do you
remember the way to the Great Valley?
Follow the bright circle past the
great rock that looks like a
long-neck...and past the mountains
that burn. ;
ANGLE - WIDE - THUNDERFOOT
MOTHER
(O.S. whispered with wind effect)
I'll be with you...even if you can
not see me. I'll be in your heart,
Thunderfoot. Let your heart guide
you..it whispers.
CONTINUED -.
vast canyon. Up ahead,
24
DISSOLVE TO:
ANGLE - MEDIUM SHOT - THUNDERFOOT.
Atop a rock, gazing at a mountain wall. His shadow appears
on the wall, looming large enough to make him momentarily
believe it's his Mother. He happily races off the rock
towards the shadow, remembering his Mother. But as he
approaches the mountain wall, the shadow shrinks, until it
is his size. He licks it, rubs against it (like a kitten).
He then realizes it is only his shadow. After a time, he
-reverently picks up the tree star, and with a longing glance
back, sets off in the direction of the setting sun.
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 006.1 "CERA AND THUNDERFOOT AT CANYON RIM"
EXTERIOR - CANYON RIM = DUSK
This is a distinctive setting ena GaGa recognize when we
see it again later. As the lengthening shadows of late
afternoon fall across his, Wack, THUNDERFOOT plods along the
shattered landscape, gla Ging” from time to time across the
ome movement attracts his
attention.
ANGLE - CERA
Just about to start down a steeply, sloping.fissure in the
side of the canyon, THUNDERFOOT rushes up to her.
THUNDERFOOT
Hello.
CERA
(snaps)
What do you want?!
“THUNDERFOOT
(drawing back)
I don't know, where are you going?
CERA
I'm going to find my own kind.
They're on the other side.
ANGLE - UPSHOT - CERA AND THUNDERFOOT
THUNDERFOOT
I've looked all over here. You can't
climb up the other side.
CONTINUED
25
She frowns. she doesn't want to hear it, and she shouldn't.
be talking to a long-neck anyway.
‘CERA
Maybe you can't.
She starts down, but THUNDERFOOT doesn't want to be left
alone. .
THUNDERFOOT
Wait! I'm going to the Great Valley!
We could help each other.
ANGLE - DOWNSHOT - THUNDERFOOT AND CERA
CERA
(haughty)
A three-horn doesn't need help from a
long-neck.
ANGLE - CERA
Loses her footing and slides, screaming, ° down into the
darkness of the canyon. The rena indian ialogue between the
two kids is shouted. ed
oy,
“THYNDERFOOT
%, ‘\( shouts)
I...well...at ‘Least we wouldn't be
alone.
She ponders it. (She is ‘lonely. ) But:
CERA
(shouts with echo)
Well. -when I find my sisters...I
won rt ‘be alone...so go away! Three
horns can be very dangerous.
ANGLE - RIM OF CANYON - THUNDERFOOT
Alone, he watches unhappily until she is out of sight. We
PULL back to a long shot of a tiny, lonely figure of
“THUNDERFOOT moving towards the setting sun.
RIPPLE OUT:
CONTINUED
26
SEQUENCE OO6A "THUNDERFOOT MEETS DUCKY"
RIPPLE IN:
ANGLE - UNDERWATER
A dancing shadow across the rocky bottom of a pond denotes a
small creature is swimming just above. Preceded by a
cluster of bubbles, the dark Silhouette of a baby
Anatosaurus enters and probes the bottom for food.
Suddenly, she turns on hearing THUNDERFOOT'S (O.S.) sad,
animal sounds. Swimming quickly over and up to him, she
sees his face, wobbly and distorted from below the surface
of the water. :
ANGLE - THE SURFACE OF THE POND
The water in front of THUNDERFOOT suddenly erupts as up pops
a tiny Anatosaurus, DUCKY. She s akes her head to get the
water out of her face, spraying T UNDERFOOT. She is younger
cent, very much a 7
than THUNDERFOOT, wide-eyed and inn
"little girl" in the way she ef) and sounds.
oo _, <DUCKY
Hello. oy yf
% —_ * hy
THUNDERFOOT ignores Her. DUCKY paddles over so she is right
in front of him, staring up. ne
a DUCKY
I said hello. .
-THUNDERFOOT defensively raises his head and sniffs back his
tears. DUCKY climbs up onto the shore, shaking to dry her
body. After a beat, she scoots closer to him.
. DUCKY
What is your name?
THUNDERFOOT stares at her blankly. Who is this cherry
beast? - . .
DUCKY _
(cajoling)
Maybe you cannot talk yet. Huh?
Huh?
THUNDERFOOT
(angrily)
Don't you know anything? Long-necks_
don't talk to...whatever you are.
CONTINUED
She tries to make herself loo
27
k like a long-neck as much as
possible, stretching her neck out, then her tail.
DUC
Me? f am a long-ne
' And I have a long t
ANGLE - DUCKY'S POV - THUNDER
THUNDERFOOT frowns at DUCKY a
trying to kid?"
ANGLE - TWO SHOT - DUCKY AND
THUNDERFOOT shakes his head,
.on his head and walks away.
to walk on all fours like him.
at her disdainfully. She shr
with big sad eyes.
buc
All right. I am no
am a big-mouth. Bu
am, I am. ah
LS
¥
CLOSE UP - DUCKY
Due
KY
ck, too. See?
ail like you.
FOOT
s if to say, "who are you
THUNDERFOOT
picks up his tree star, puts it
DUCKY anxiously follows, trying
THUNDERFOOT turns and stares
inks back and stares up at him
KY , 19 *
© @dyiueneck. I
t ham alone, I
cuT TO:
KY
I Lost my family in the big
earthshake.
She sits down in a 2 pathetic heap. Her eyes fill with tears
‘that she bravely sniffs back.
DUCKY
(sniffles)
THUNDERFOOT'S heart sinks.
ANGLE - TWO SHOT.
THUNDERFOOT
(softly)
You want to go with me?
; DUCKY
Oh, yes, yes. I do.
- She gratefully scoots up next to him.
CONTINUED
28
THUNDEREOOT
All right, come on. |
: (Sternly)
But you'll have to keep up.
‘WIDE SHOT - THUNDERFOOT AND DUCKY
Walk along pond's edge. DUCKY scrambling to keep up. She
has to take three steps, a run and a jump, to keep up with
the much-larger THUNDERFOOT, but she quickly gets it down to
_ WIDE SHOT
SEQUENCE 006B "CERA IN THE CANYON"
a rhythm and doesn't seem to mind at all.
DUCKY
I will keep up. I will, I will.
Where are we going? Huh?
THUNDERFOOT
To the Great Valley. I'm not going —
to stop until I find my grandparents.
‘@ YS THUNDERFOOT
My names “Thunderfoot.
DUCKY,
Mine is Ducky. Yep, that is what it
is.. Yep, yep, yep.
. ; (Pause)
Do you think my family went to the
Great Valley, too? Huh? Huh?
THUNDERFOOT
(distant)
Maybe. My mother said, it's where
all the herds were going.
DUCKY
_ (distant)
Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope.
CUT TO: |
ANGLE - CERA
against the forest.
Their
Screaming, she has lost her footing. She is toppling down
toward camera, rocks crumbling all around her. After
CONTINUED
' bravado dropped: she flinches a
29
somersaulting across the floor of the crater, she bangs her
head into the far wall, rather abruptly. CERA doesn't
usually moan when she butts things with her head. She is
built for such stuff, but this one hurts.
CERA
(moans)
"She looks up, it is a sheer, Clay cliff, rising fifty feet
straight up. She backs off, paces in a small circle and
looks upward again, trying to figure some way to get up that
foreboding wall. After a beat, she charges at it and butts
her head into the clay. Bits of earth dislodge and tumble
down around her. CERA scampers up the newly-formed ramp.
The climb is too much: stones give way once again, and she
tumbles to the bottom of the ramp.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR NARROW PASSAGEWAY (DOWN SHOT)
CERA is wandering among jagged monoliths of stone that
litter the canyon floor. Water dribb@és down walls and
plinks into puddles, creating eerie ec Ses. We are getting
to see the frightened, yeanerable Cane with her mask of
7
ch sound, and quivers at
each odd echo. A,
; ay
SEQUENCE 006C "THUNDERFOOT AND DUCKY MEET PETRIE"
EXT. DRY LAKE. BED NEXT DAY
THUNDERFOOT and DUCKY are crossing a dry lake bed, dotted
with straggly palm trees. Both are playing a game of
hopscotch trying not to step in the cracks in the dry mud.
- DUCKY
My stomach is talking.
; THUNDERFOOT . -
Mine too. f[ wonder what this tastes _
like? ;
THUNDERFOOT bites down on the bough of a palm tree. Tugging
away hoping to dislodge it, but with each tug, to his and
-DUCKY's surprise, the tree squeaks. In fact, the more he
pulls at it, the more it squeaks.
TREE
(hey!)
WHISTLE WHISTLE
CONTINUED
30
DUCKY
The tree is talking.
THUNDERFOOT
(through clenched teeth, branch in:
mouth)
No it isn't.
DUCKY
You should not eat talking trees,
nope, nope.
- He makes one last tug to dislodge the bough. Suddenly a
small creature slides down the bough and into THUNDERFOOT's
face. The little critter lets out a loud .squawk which ©
frightens THUNDERFOOT and he lets go of the bough. There is
a flutter of wings mixed with yelps as the little beast
crashes and disappears into a hole in the ground,’ Curious
DUCKY peeks into the hole. There, beat, battéefed and
DUCKY x
Who are you? a
‘ye tee
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(My name Petrie.)
DUCKY |
Petrie, huh? Funny name!
: (giggles)
PETRIE _
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(Flied?)
DUCKY
No you falled.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(That no landing, I no fly,
DUCKY
_bedraggled is one ruddy little Pterodactyl \WPETRIE."
eR,
f
»O, caf
I fall.)
. You cannot fly? How did you get way
up there? Huh? Huh?
. PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(I climb.)
THUNDERFOOT
But you are a flier, not a faller.
CONTINUED
32
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(Hard thing to fly.)
THUNDERFOOT
I guess it is. We can't do it.
| DUCKY
(giggles, tries to fly - flaps her
arms)
Nope, we cannot do that allright!
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(You ever try it?)
DUCKY
No. I never fly, I'ma swimmer!
Yep! Yep!
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(mocking Ducky)
(I'm a swimmer)
(makes raspberry (gund)
_
a as
SEQUENCE 007 "CERA AND... THE EYE OF THE REX"
pO By
, Pan aN YD
*, - 4
EXT. THE BOTTOM OF TRE CANYON
CUT TO:
CERA is winding deeper and deeper into. the bowels of the
fissure, craggy stalagmites are around her. Far above dark
Clouds blot out the sun until all Cera can really see are
_ Spooky half-glimpses of the Surrounding area.
CLOSE ON CERA
Almost in total darkness, she collides with something on the
canyon floor and quickly backs off: What the heck was that?
ANGLE ~ THE SKY
. Ominous clouds blow past the sun.
ANGLE - THE CANYON FLOOR
Spears of sunlight illuminate the area where CERA stands.
CONTINUED
ane
32
ANGLE - THE REX - CERA'S POV.
His massive out-stretched form is in front of her. Is he
dead or merely sleeping?
ANGLE - CERA AND THE REX
She stands gaping:. after a beat, she timidly begins to
sniff around him. We see the wounds and scars from his
battle with THUNDERFOOT'S Mother. All indications are that
Rex is dead. CERA suddenly inflates with her old cockiness,
. convinced he's no longer a threat. She backs up a few paces
and charges at Rex's head, stopping just inches from his one
good eye. After pausing to get her nerve up, she backs up
and charges a second time. -and then stops in front of his
face once more. She backs up again, digging in, determined.
She charges, faster and more furious than ever. She lowers
her head to ram Rex in the face but then raises her gaze.
She comes to a sudden, screeching halt.
ANGLE - REX'S HEAD ~ CERA'S POV
She can see herself reflected in the eyeball of Rex's
now-opened eye.
_ ANGLE - WIDER
Rex is alive! Fighting ‘beria, CERA pivots ‘and goes
-Kacing out of that cues just as fast as her stubby little
legs will take her. ‘i
o
ANGLE
Just as she is exiting, the Rex's massive tail slams. down
between us and CERA. We are not sure if she got out. or not.
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 007A "THE TREK"
EXT. DRIED LANDSCAPES WITH DEAD TREES Little Petrie is
overwhelmed from trying to keep up. His wings are useless
and his legs are too small to run very fast. He zips up on
to Thunderfoot's tail and scoots to his head and disappears
under the tree star.
THUNDERFOOT
Hey! Petrie! Get off!
CONTINUED
wh
oorral
33.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
' (Oh, nice head, Flathead! )
THUNDERFOOT
My name is not Flathead. My name is
Thunderfoot. .
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE?
(Thunderfoot? )}
THUNDERFOOT
Are you just going to stay up there?
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
~ (Yes.)
THUNDERFOOT
You can't...You're tearing my tree
star! he,
pucre (V9 Dae
It is very special, hiis} ther gave
it to him. Shei td, she did.
a PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(very impressed)
(Ooooo0o0oh! )
He yanks the -leaf out from under himself and quickly rolls
it up into a scroll, and tucks it under his wing.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(I keep it safes.)
DUCKY
(giggles) .
Yes, Petrie, you keep it safe, Yep,
yep, yep.
THUNDERFOOT
Not No! No! I'm not a carrier,
get off! You're a flyer, now
start flying.
Thunderfoot begins to run. Scared little Petrie hangs on
for dear life. He makes a pathetic attempt at flapping his,
wings.
DUCKY
Open your wings Petrie! Open! Open!
CONTINUED
ee
34
Terrified, Petrie extends only the wing tips. Although he
is at air speed, he won't let go of Thunderfoot's head.
. PETRIE:
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(Me no can fly, Stop! Stop!)
THUNDERFOOT
(panting)
You can fly! Let go.
DUCKY
(running - panting)
Up, Petrie! Higher! Higher!
Petrie begins squawking loudly. Suddenly there isa
screaming sound off in the dark. It is another animal in
Pain or equally frightened. The sound grows closer and
closer. Petrie stops flapping and points off to the |
darkness in front of them. .
. PETRIE Ne
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE = ¢\ /~
(Danger!) ...
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(There. ..ahead! )
Thunderfoot with Petrie on his head races up inside of the
skeleton of a dead dinosaur, spins around and begins running
back in the opposite direction. Suddenly there is a
collision with another animal. Thunderfoot, Ducky and
Petrie slide to a stop. Everything goes quiet. They look
around to find Cera trembling, frightened and out of breath.
THUNDERFOOT
(panting)
Cera...What happened. Why are you so
frightened?
Cera pretends to be calm and unconcerned.
CERA
(panting) ;
Frightened?! Me? Why are you so
frightened?
THUNDERFOOT
(still panting slightly)
We're not.
CONTINUED
35
CERA
(panting slightly)
Well you should be. I could be with
other three horns, but I chose to
come back and warn you...I met the
Sharptooth.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(yells)
Sharptooths!!!
THUNDERFOOT
(mattér-of-factly)
Sharptooth is dead. He fell down
into the big underground.
Cera shifts into hushed overly-dramatic~
: CERA % “gl "
And that's where he met ie.
DUCKY
Dear brave Cera.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE. .
(Cera so brave.)
7 CERA
Yes I am brave.
THUNDERFOOT
. (Insisting)
Sharptooth is dead!
CERA
- (angrily)
. ’ i Nut
ones’
My father told me that flatheads had
very small brains!
(Mysterious - to others ~
tone of voice)
I was alone in the dark! Just the:
Sharptooth and me! I could hear him
breathing...
(imitates sound)
I could see his one big ugly eye
looking for me.
(imitates action)
DUCKY
What did you do? Huh?
CONTINUED
Ant
CLOSE - ON THE EGG ‘3,
36
_ CERA. .
I walked right up to him...I looked
him straight in the eye and said...
(fierce growl sound)
aaaarrhh!
Cera pounces forward as she screams landing on a branch upon
which Ducky unfortunately has been standing The branch is
resting on a rock, teeter-totter fashion, Worp The poor
little creature is suddenly catapulted high into the air and
disappears into the bush.
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 008 "SPIKE'S BIRTH"
ANGLE ~ BOTTOM OF THE HILL
An area ringed with high, dry weeds, Ducky skids into an
abandoned dinosaur nest, colliding with a large, speckled
-egg...the last unhatched one. There are the remains of
several hatched eggs scattered around it. She stares at the
egg: SNORING is coming from inside. Ducky gets up and
scoots once around the egg, inspecting it from all angles.
The egg begins to rock’and th tilts up on end as, from
inside, we hear YAWNING at YTCHING sounds.
acy
THUMP. SMACK: SW maze of cracks appear at the egg's crown,
and then. all aS’still again.
Ducky comes closer and taps lightly on the egg.
DUCKY
Hello? You should come out, you
should. You are late. Yes, you are.
Yep, yep, yep.
we hear another YAWN from inside then the SNORING starts
-again. A chunk of the top comes off of the shell, revealing
the sleepy head of SPIKE, a baby stegosaurus. One
heavy~Llidded eye opens briefly to gaze at her. His
expression is serene and dreamy..
Oe DUCKY
Come out. You are all alone. Are
you not scared? Huh? Huh?
He smiles and shakes his head. She peels away the rest of
his egg. He just sort of Spills out, rolling comfortably.
over onto his side.
CONTINUED
7
“4 ,
i
37
DUCKY
. (proud)
We are going to the Great Valley.
You can go with us. Yes, you can.
You are a spiketail, so we will call
you Spike. Uh-huh, uh-huh.
He nods and drifts off to sleep. Ducky is perplexed. How
do you motivate this character? She looks around, among the
reeds are a few drying berries.- She grabs one and waves it
under Spike's nose. ,
DUCKY
Are you hungry? Huh? Huh?
‘Spike perks up, rolling to his feet as though in a trance.
He takes a few steps, hungrily following the berry.
. THUNDERFOOT
(voice-over calling out)
Ducky, where are you?
Thunderfoot and Petrie enter. Ducky points proudly at Spike
‘who takes advantage of the moment,.to grab the berry from her
hand and gulps it down. \
{
CERA
(emphatically)
No! He'll slow us down. All spike-
tails can do is eat and burp. The
Sharptooth will catch up...and eat
us.
THUNDERFOOT
No more dumb stories.
; CERA
. (through gritted teeth)
I'm telling the truth.
EXT. - MESA - LATER
Our gang is moving on. Petrie, with tree star, is perched
atop Thunderfoot's head. Ducky is riding on Thunderfoot's
swinging tail, holding out a bramble branch covered with
berries as an inducement to keep the sleepy Spike moving.
_ CONTINUED
Nee
38
CLOSER - ON SPIKE AND DUCKY
As Thunderfoot's tail swishes back and forth, Ducky swings
from side to side on it, forcing Spike to trot one way and
then the other in his bid to get one good bite of the berry
' branch. : .
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE OO8A "WATER DROP TO OASIS"
ANGLE - SINGLE DROPLET OF WATER
which drips to join other droplets streaming down off
prehistoric plant to form a tiny puddle, then a streamlet,
and finally, a little brook. We hear Thunderfoot discussing
the water offstage.
THUNDERFOOT
(offstage)
Tree stars grow where there's lots of
water. If we follow this water...
We see all of the children far below in a valley near the
brook. Thunderfoot sniffs at the water as Petrie slides
down his head to see his own reflection.
PETRIEC\) ~
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(No green foods ¢ ere, “and I still
hungry. ) EOAN i
or
7 Nye DUCKY |
I'm still hungry too. Uh-huh, Uh-huh
; THUNDERFOOT
Can you smell something?
.. PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(I smell... smell...(sniff,
sniff)....Ducky.)
DUCKY
(embarrassed)
-..you smell me.?
oe THUNDERFOOT
I smell water...I smell tree stars!
Thunderfoot raises his head to full height, to see through
an opening in the boulders. -In the valley below is a
cluster of beautiful green trees.
CONTINUED
C
. 39
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(The Great Valley!)
_ DUCKY
The Great Valley!
| ss CERA
(exuberantly)
I found it! I found it! The Great
Valley!
Cera begins running down the ravine with Thunderfoot calling
after her. .
THUNDERFOOT
_The Great Valley? But we haven't.
seen the long-neck rock yet, or the
mountains that burn.
CERA
I found it! I-found it!
Cera, stop it!
. oe 2
git aa 4 8
7 odeha
I found itr \z \founa it!
Suddenly, we hear RUMBLING; the earth starts to tremble.
Everyone looks around in panic.
ANGLE - A BIG CLOUD
is descending on the oasis. We don't know what it is, but
it's moving in fast. -
ANGLE - OASIS - A HERD OF DIPLODOCUS
swoops down like monsters locusts, devouring everything they
can reach...and they can reach everything. Our little guys
don't have a chance against these ravenous marauders. In
minutes the oasis is decimated. The herd moves on, SMACKING
their lips.
- ANGLE - CERA.
As she surveys the picked-clean ex-oasis. She's ticked off.
- CONTINUED
foo
{
_ SEQUENCE 009 "THE PYRAMID"
40
CERA
Look what they did! They're so
greedy! What about me? I'm still
hungry!
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE..
( You hungry? I empty all the way to
the top! Now we at the Great Valley
and still not got green-foods. We be
hungry forevers! )
THUNDERFOOT
: (reassuringly)
Petrie, Cera was wrong. This isn't
the Great Valley.
ANGLE -. SPIKE AND DUCKY
DUCKY i>
It is not a great any thins: Nope,
“nope, nope. ek
>
\e CUT To:
by
ANGLE - INTERIOR OF THE EATEN TREES IN THE OASIS
As the five children walk among the barren woods,
Thunderfoot spies one single tree that still has some green
food very high up and out of reach
THUNDERFOOT
Petrie, do you think you could fly up
there and get that green food for us?
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(No. No. I.can no fly.)
DUCKY
Petrie, do not feel sad. It is all
right. Many things do not fly...rocks,
trees, sticks...
THUNDERFOOT
I'm not tall enough by myself, but
all of us might be...together.
CONTINUED
41
Thunderfoot puts his front paws high up on the tree trunk.
Ducky scurries up to Thunderfoot's head to lift Petrie on
her shoulders. Upward the group stretches and strains to
reach the delicious green food. Then the unexpected
happens, Spike burrows under Thunderfoot's legs and lifts
him onto his own shoulders. Petrie, screams as the group
‘Zips upwards amongst the leaves. Petrie, eyes clenched shut
with fear, now blindly swats at the leaves around him,
knocking only a few loose.
Hungry, Spike goes bug-eyed as a lone leaf flutters past his
nose. Forgetting he's holding the others up, he staggers.
determinedly after it. The stack of dinosaurs sways over,
Petrie YELLING frantically. Spike spots another falling
leaf and stumbles after it in the opposite direction. The
dinosaur stack sways the other way. ,
As Petrie passes the branch again, he grabs hold for dear
life. Ducky hangs onto Petrie for the®same reason.
%
Thunderfoot and Spike CRASH to the jround .
Far above, Petrie, eyes still cidnenba shut, dangles from
the branch. Ducky now dangles from” Petrie's feet. The _
Mes As it breaks loose, Petrie
. bev leaf. It snaps free and they
plummet! Petrie SCREAMS.‘“’At the last instant, Thunderfoot
takes a deep breath and™“blows a gust of air upward. The
leaf inflates like a parachute. As Ducky's feet gently
touch ground, Petrie floats back down onto Ducky's ;
shoulders...and CRASH! Half the leaf-laden branch comes
down around them. Petrie slowly, fearfully opens one eye,
then the other, relieved to see he's safe. Petrie proudly
gestures to the foliage.
se
ANGLE - CERA
As she slowly comes to. She reacts as she sees.
WIDER - THE GROUP
‘The other dinosaurs happily eating their pile of leaves.
Thunderfoot spots her.
THUNDERFOOT
Come on, Cera! We get green-food!
CERA
I can get my own green-food!
She emits her BATTLE CRY and starts stubbornly butting the
tree again and again, trying to shake loose the remaining
leaves. She only succeeds in making herself dizzier and
dizzier, until she's wobbling around like a drunk.
' CONTINUED
- by Petrie, then Spike.
42
ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT
How can he stop Cera without offending her. He gets an idea.
Taking a tuft of leaves, he flings them high in the air just
as Cera butts the tree again. The tuft lands next to her.
She stares at it woozily and says drunkenly:
- CERA
, - (continued)
See? I can take care of myself,
all-by-myself!
Still chewing on the leaves, Cera lies down a little way off
and shouts back to the others:
CERA
And I'm not afraid to be alone...I'm
not afraid of Sharptooth.
(dramatically)
I hope he doesn't eat any of, you!
a ; coke
The little group all look at each ofitiey’ very worried.
THUNDERBOOT
‘Don't worry, theréhisn't any
Sharptooth! OAY
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 010 "THE SLEEPING BALLET"
CLOSE - UP - THUNDERFOOT ALONE
Thunderfoot is alone. Spike, Ducky and Petrie have left his
side and are snugging securely up to Cera just in case there
is a Sharptooth and just in case he should return.
They sleep and a soft snore begins. Thunderfoot is alone .
and dejected.
THUNDERFOOT
(to himself)
There isn't any Sharptooth.
He hums a soft lullaby (the one his mother used to sing to
him). :
‘It is Ducky who wakes first to the carcophonous racket of
the group snoring. Lured by the melancholy of Thunderfoot's
soft humming, she quickly (like sleepwalking) finds her way
to his side and cuddles next to him. She is soon followed
CONTINUED
a .
43
ANGLE =~ CERA
Shivering, stubbornly trying to sleep alone. When she's
sure the others are asleep, she creeps over to the group. and
cuddles up to them.
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE O10A "WAKE UP IN THE FOOTPRINT"
ANGLE - ALL FIVE CHILDREN
are still asleep in the wispy morning fog. Cera is the
first to wake. She sniffs at the air, sensing that
something is wrong. Looking around her she discovers that
they have been sleeping in the footprint of the Rex. More
startled now, she looks frantically about to see if the .
giant predator is nearby. From her point-of-view, at some
distance, we see silhouetted, rocks start to move and we
recognize it as the dreaded beast. ces nudges Thunderfoot:
CERA Yo
(whispering)
; (nudging ak, Thuri erfoot)
. Wake up. Wake UP)
Thunderfoot. YAWNS and So he over to continue sleeping. Cera
nudges him abruptly wither horn.
THUNDERFOOT
(loudly)
Hey, stop that!
. CERA
(whisper)
Shhh, it's Sharptooth.
THUNDERFOOT
; (loudly)
Cera stop it!
This loud outburst of Thunderfoot, turns. the attention of
the Rex towards the children. Opening wide his one good
eye, he emits a SHATTERING roar and charges towards them.
ANGLE - CERA
Cera SCREAMS and begins running for her life, the other kids
right behind her. The Rex cuts them off at every turn. This
is their worst nightmare coming true. Thunderfoot decoys
the Rex's attention off the kids onto himself. Petrie on
Thunderfoot's head is holding fast to the tree star.
CONTINUED
eee”
44
THUNDERFOOT
(calling out, panting)
That way. Through the rocks. —
ANGLE - NARROW GAP BETWEEN THE ROCKS - CERA'S POV
Cera arrives at the opening first and quickly slips bet
the boulders; the others follow Closely behind. Then i
happens. Petrie loses his grip on the tree star.
Sharptooth crushes the delicate object under his’ foot.
mother's present is gone forever. Thunderfoot and Petr
slip through the crevice just in time. The Rex crashes
against the opening but is far too big to the other sid
In a blind rage, he ferociously claws at the rocks.
ANGLE - GROUP FROM OTHER SIDE OF OPENING
Ducky and Spike huddle against ae fot in terror.
is both frightened and angry as 5s ‘verbally ASSAILS
Thunderfoot. ok .
: Ve
CERA ™
There! I tolde¥eu Sharptooth was
alive. You Hear ly got us killed... you
stupid lony-neék. Now will you
believe me?
SO THUNDERFOOT
I'm sorry. We're safe now.
CERA
Nobédy's safe with you.
DUCKY
When you saw the Sharptooth you said
"Aarrh," you didn't say "Ahhgh."
CERA
(exiting)
_I saved your lives.
THUNDERFOOT
Look! It's the rock that looks like
a long-neck, just like my mother
said. We're going the right way.
That's the way to the Great Valley.
CUT TO:
CONTINUED
ween
t
The
ie
e.
Cera
45
SEQUENCE 011 "TRAVEL MONTAGE"
WIDE ANGLE ESTABLISHING EXTERIOR SHOT
Thunderfoot is leading the quintet through a forest of tall,
Carrot-shaped trees. As they walk, Cera quickly trots
forward and overtakes Thunderfoot. Thus enabling her to
appear as if “she were the leader of the group."
ANGLE ON SMALL CLUSTER OF BEAUTIFUL FUZZY WILD FLOWERS
Cera smells the aroma of the delicious blossoms and greedily
begins gorging herself. Ducky appears and attempts to eat
one of the flowers. Cera not wishing to share the food with
anyone, quickly gobbles every blossom in sight before Ducky
can even eat one. ey ,
ANGLE - PETRIE AND THUNDERFOOT gp
Petrie desperately trying to ,kéep from being blown away by a
gusty wind. Debris blows rungously past them, as Petrie is
lifted from Thunderfoot's head and is blown down his back to
his tail, where Petrie finally grasps onto each character;
blown from one to the next.
ANGLE - THE GROUP
In the middle of a dry, barren landscape, under a blazing _
sun, Ducky, Thunderfoot and Petrie watch as Spike digs deep
through the crusted ground and discovers an underground
spring. Excitedly they all leap into the water and begin
swimming about, enjoying the coolness of the spring.
DISSOLVE To:
ANGLE - PETRIE, DUCKY AND THUNDERFOOT
in the middle of a volcano ash storm. Petrie and Ducky are
trudging forward, beneath Thunderfoot, in waist-deep ash.
We will pull back revealing hundreds of small burning embers
falling all around then.
Cera is behind them angrily struggling through the ash,
trying to keep up.
DISSOLVE TO:
CONTINUED
46
ANGLE ~ ROCKY TERRAIN
amidst a shower of ash and burning embers from a distant
erupting volcano. Thunderfoot approaches the edge of a
chasm, just ahead. He stretches forward and grabs hold of.
the rock on the other side, making his own body into a ,
suspension bridge over which the others can cross. Cera
decides not to follow the rest, but to climb up another path
on her own. ,
DISSOLVE TO:
ANGLE - PETRIE AND THUNDERFOOT |
Hot sandy desert-like landscape. Exhausted, Petrie slides
down Thunderfoot's tail. He is dragged in the sand as he
hangs on.-. Ducky also slides down the tail, but grabs on to
the tail just before landing on Petrieg®,
9
eS %y
EXT. THE BOTTOM OF A HIGH “SAND MOUNTAIN
All the kids are lying about at the bottom of an unclimbable
sand mountain. They are too exhausted to go another step -
further, and collapse in tortured positions all around.
THUNDERFOOT
No! Not now...You can't quit now!
WIDE SHOT TO INCLUDE OTHERS
Lying down, their tongues hanging out, they gasp for air.
7 PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(Aaah, good time to quit.)
DUCKY .
Yes. It is too hard, too far. I
cannot go to the Great Valley. Nope
Nope. Nope. oe
THUNDERFOOT _
What if the Great Valley is just over
the top of this hill?
CERA a :
What if the Great Valley is nowhere?
I've never seen it! Have you seen
it?!
CONTINUED
47
| _ THUNDERFOOT
No! But I know it's there. Come on,
get up.
All the kids get up and start up the hill except Cera. She
stubbornly holds back.
CERA
(shouting to them)
How do you know long-neck?
THUNDERFOOT
= (shouts back)
I've seen it...With my heart.
CERA
(in disbelief)
Your heart?! I see with my eyes!
- DISSOLVE To:
oN)
Cs
SEQUENCE 012 "THE CONFRONTATIO
q on “
. iN!
ANGLE - THE TOP OF TH
es, +
Wien (
& . . ry :
(From the bottom of\the far side of the hill, looking up.)
As they appear over the rise, we see their expectant faces.
ANGLE - THE "VALLEY" = DINOSAURS' POV
It is nothing. more than a burnt-out, desolate crater.
Cera, like a pressure cooker at the breaking point - steam
spits from her flared nostrils, and a deep grown rumbles up
into her throat.
CERA
The Great Valley....You're crazy!!
THUNDERFOOT
I'm sorry!...
(approaching Cera)
I thought!...
CERA
Get away from me!
She turn to go back down the hill, but suddenly the ground
gives way beneath her. She and all the dinosaurs slide
helplessly to the bottom of the crater. Everyone lands on
top of one another. They get up shakily, and look around.
There are two distant ways out of the crater. One is a
CONTINUED
4g
gently sloping path leading out through a notch in the
crater wall. The other, a nightmarish narrow trail straight
up the crater wall (that is the direction of the setting
sun). Storyboard note: Show old dried footprints of other
dinosaurs going the easy way. This is an element of Cera's
argument. :
THUNDERFOOT ;
(heading towards difficult path)
This way. Come on.
CERA
That way! No! This way is much
easier.
(to the others) .
Now will you listen to me? Look at
all those foot trails over there... .
(to Thunderfoot matter-of=factly:)
-.-Moving away from the sun. Don't
you think there's some reason they've
all gone that way? a
(directly to Thunderfoot: )
Don't you?!
. 2) <OOT .
We have to kee Date] the. bright
circle.
I'm leavin i'm taking the easy way
for once. *
‘THUNDERFOOT
But it's the wrong way!
CERA
Who says?
THUNDEREFOOT
My mother.
CERA
Then she was a stupid flathead too.
THUNDERFOOT
Take that back!
_CERA
Never!
That's it! Thunderfoot charges at Cera with enough fury to
send Petrie toppling from his head.
CONTINUED
49
Cera and Thunderfoot become engaged in a vicious battle that
we HEAR but do not see (sounds effects, not dialogue). We
know what's going on by watching the reactions of the
others: a wince, a cringe, a look away, a cry of sympathy.
We see the dust of the combatants kick up; we hear Cera and
Thunderfoot's BLEATS and GRUNTS as they tumble about.
ANGLE - THE GROUP
As he finally pulls free and backs away from Cera, panting,
fighting back tears. He is hurt, angry, and fed-up. Petrie
runs in, quickly scrambles up Thunderfoot's back and plops
on his head. Cera gets to the feet back down trudging out
of the crater, along the easy path.
THUNDEREFOOT
(panting)
Go! Got Go the wrong way. We never
wanted you with us anyway.
Thunderfoot starts doggedly heading up the steep path. But
Spike and Ducky do net follow. They're still sitting at the
bottom of the crater. In unison they look at the steep path
and turn to look at Cera's much easier path. They look back
ow
and forth, back and forth...
Thunderfoot glances back. ws)
THUNDERFOOT
Come on...We have to keep going.
DUCKY
; (apologetic) .
Cera's way is easier. 7
Spike nods in agreement. Thunderfoot is stunned.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
( I think so too.)
Spike nods again. They begin plodding after Cera. CAMERA
HOLD - on devastated Thunderfoot. .
THUNDERFOOT
But you can't go that way. You don't
even know where it goes.
DUCKY
We know where it doesn't go. It
doesn't go up. Nope. Nope.
Petire is still up on Thunderfoot's head and claims bitterly
that they are going the hard way.
CONTINUED
ed
‘SEQUENCE 012A "VOLCANO LAND" ;
- and. skeletons loom mut
50
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(Maybe time to go new way.)
THUNDERFOOT
Fine! You go a new way...You go with
them. You've been nothing but
trouble to me.
He begins swinging his head in furious arcs. Petrie tries
desperately to hang on.
THUNDERFOOT
You're the flier...Fly off and find
the valley yourself!...I don't need
you. I don't need any 6f you!
Petrie lands next to spike and Ducky. They wave a tearful
good-bye to Thunderfoot as he plods away. They then turn
and follow after Cera.
CUT To:
KO
‘y S)
. ‘7 ( y:
It is a dark, frightening moh of smoking volcanic
mountains, black crea uand crimson fog. Steam rises from
simmering lava pools, Epbrmous rotting dinosaur carcasses
, ©f the mists. Weird sounds drift
hauntingly. tye
. Cera stalks along with hardly a glance back at the others,
who are bug-eyed, looking around to check out each new sound
or shadow.
Petrie rides along on Cera's back. Behind them scurries
Spike with Ducky now riding on his back. They pass the
horrid-looking corpse of a decaying Iguanodon. Ducky tries
not to notice. For Petrie, Cera's not as comfortable as
Thunderfoot. Petrie gets poked by one of Cera's horns. He
readjusts himself and his rump slides down over Cera's eyes.
Cera testily prods Petrie with her nose horn to get him to
move back. He scoots further back on Cera's head, behind
her neck plate. He's fine, almost, if only Cera didn't
bounce so much when she walked. Petrie glances longingly
back at the crater in the background, wishing Thunderfoot
was with them.
DUCKY |
I wish Thunderfoot was with us now.
_ PETRIE _
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(Me too.)
CONTINUED
51
ANGLE - PRICKLY BERRY BUSH
Spike may be scared, but not too scared to eat. He stops to
nibble the unappetizing looking bush. Ducky, up top, tries
to spur Spike forward.
DUCKY
Spike! Do not stop! Nope, nope! We
must stay together. We do not want
to be alone... do we?
Ducky notices that Cera and Petrie have moved on in the
volcanic fog. They are alone.
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 013 "THE VISION"
EXT. PLATEAU - DUSK 7
Als
Thunderfoot's depression has gr6whiso acute he can’ barely
move forward. He takes a few stebds, stumbles, stops. He
scans. the vast emptiness arg, then emits a gut-wrenching
bleat of pain and od exon s¥ As he raises his neck to let.
out another tortured crv freezes. Something in the late
' afternoon sky has capt his attention. His face is
overcome by an expressitn of awestruck wonder.
ANGLE - THE SKY (THUNDERFOOT' S POV)
is streaked with wispy pink and grey clouds. Directly
overhead one ‘Large cloud has formed an unmistakable,
inexplicably touching portrait of Thunderfoot's mother.
ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT
He stops. He has trouble finding his voice: S$ Single word
comes out in a choked half-whisper:
THUNDERFOOT
' Mother?
ANGLE - WIDER
The wind blows: we hear an eerie yet comforting version of
Mother's voice coming to Thunderfoot on the breeze. (Note:
Mother's voice treated with vocoder and special sound
effects).
7 MOTHER
Thunderfoot....
CONTINUED
52.
-Thunderfoot is dazed by his many conflicting emotions.
THUNDERFOOT
(fighting tears)
I tried to do what you told me. But
it's just too hard. I'll never find
the Great Valley.
The cloud begins to drift. Thunderfoot scrambles
- desperately after it.
THUNDERFOOT
Mother! Don't go. :
He chases the cloud across the plateau. Suddenly he
stops...a new sound is drifting toward him. Is he just
imagining it? It's the sound of voices SINGING the
sweetest, most beautiful song...
ANGLE - GREAT VALLEY ENTRANCE - THUNDERFOOT'S POV
Below the cloud he sees an opening(through a far mountain
wall. Warm shimmering rays of light” spill out through it.
As the cloud is parted by the sth it breaks through the
"heart" of the Mother/cloud. CXS ‘
ANGLE - THUNDERFOOT
His heart swells.
= ‘THUNDERFOOT
: i (hushed)
The Great Valley!
He happily dashes toward it. He runs into the opening of
the mountain, looks down on the Great Valley. ‘POV of
Thunderfoot. He made it...He starts to run down into the
“Valley. But the wind swirls...he hears his mother's
whispered "voice" again.
MOTHER
Thunderfoot... ,
He skids to a stop, full of indecision.
: THUNDERFOOT |
The others...they went the wrong way!
They'll never find the Great Valley!
(look up at the cloud)
Mother! What should I do?
CONTINUED
53
In the sky, a breeze stirs the clouds...the portrait of
Thunderfoot's mother begins to dissipate, but Thunderfoot
already knows the answer.
THUNDERFOOT
(continued)
My heart...my heart says..they're my:
friends! I have to help them!
He suddenly turns and charges back the way he came. |
CuT To:
SEQUENCE O13A "KIDS GET SEPARATED"
EXT. ANOTHER PATH IN VOLCANO LAND - NI HT)
a
: Rete, Megs! .
Cera is plodding along with Petrie onier head. They have
yet to realize that Ducky and Spike ‘abe no longer behind
‘them. Petrie is chattering away to keep his spirits up.
He's less and less certain that Cera knows what she's doing.
He winces at the carcass of a dead’dinosaur. He flinches as
a nearby volcano belches, spitting out clouds of: smoke and
lava rocks. te
, if
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
- (frightened)
(Cera knows right way to go? Real?
sure? )
CERA
. .... (impatiently)
I know my way to go.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(I scared.)
CERA
~ Well I'm not scared.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(I wonder if Thunderfoots' lonesome. )
CERA
I don't care if that long-neck is
lonesome.
CONTINUED .
_Thunderfoot slides to a stop at théyéd
54
Petrie gets knocked off Cera's head by a low branch. He
falls and tumbles into a pit of sticky tar. Cera just keeps
walking into the fog and smoke. Petrie struggles to free
himself but only succeeds in Sinking into the black
quagmire. He screams.
_ PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE ;
(Cera! I fall off! Cera! Ducky!
Spike! Help!)
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 014 "TO THE RESCUE"
_EXT. CLIFF IN VOLCANO LAND - NIGHT
A rocket of flame and red hot lava erupts from a crater and
rains down upon Spike and Ducky, who are stranded on a large
island-like rock in the middle of aglava flow. The heat
from the lava chips away at the floatihg island.
ge of the cliff. He
is horrified to see Spike and’ Ducks predicament. _Ducky's
little feet are too tender to ee the heat of the rock,
so she has climbed up on Spike's Batk. The float is
disintegrating. —
oes
Thunderfoot sprints across thé hét rocks and with his strong
neck he pushes a large bould@x.” It splashes down into place
forming a bridge to his marootiéd buddies - not a moment too
soon. As Spike dashes overt, the island is gulped by the
moulten lava river. —
Another eruption from the angry volcano sends the three kids
_. racing away. But wait! A faint but quiet audible sound
reaches Thunderfoot's ears.
PETRIE
WHISLTE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
((0.S. Screams) Help! I
die! Help!)
THUNDERFOOT
(calls out)
Petrie...this way. .
The three bolt in the direction of Petrie's cries.
CUT TO:
CONTINUED
55
ANGLE - TAR-PIT
Petrie's just about out of sight...just a beak and
bugged-~out eyes above the tar surface. The others come
stampeding down to the edge of the pit.
; PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(desperate and choking)
(Petrie am S000 happy to see
friends!)
The group sizes up the situation. Ducky comes to.
DUCKY
Ooooo! Petrie is in sticky-water!
Thunderfoot wraps his mighty tail around the only available
anchor = a huge dead tree. He clamps his mouth onto Spike's
tail and together they bravely wade into the tar.
Stretching out as far as they can, they still can't reach
Petrie. Ducky scrambles out along their backs, all the way
to Spike's head. She can just barely reach Petrie. They
all CHEER as she hauls Petrie up onto Spike's head. But
suddenly..
The tree breaks! Suddenly, they’ EYE Oevhking. Ducky
races back and forth, from -§ spike’ s\badk to Thunderfoot's
back like a panicked sda eal stain. In that desperate moment
before sinking into theLb tae gooey pit, Cera's voice
catches the group's attention.
CERA O.S.
- (distant)
You get away...stay away
All the kids are struggling in the tar. Spike is still
clinging to the shore. ,
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 015 "TAR BEAST RESCUES CERA"
INT. CAVE
Cera is surrounded by four menacing Pachycephalosauruses.
They are ugly, scaly critters that walk on their hind legs
and look like ancestors of the Creature from the Black
Lagoon. Cera is looking from one to the other as they
circle her, hissing at her. Getting ready to close in for >
the kill, one of them lunges at her: Cera rears back and
spits in his face. .
‘CONTINUED -
56
The rest of them move in closer...tightening about the
circle around her. Cera is hopping and thrashing about to
keep them from grabbing on her. Suddenly, from the mouth of
the cave we hear a TREMENDOUS ECHOING ROAR that sounds far
too loud to have been made by a single being: the
-Pachycelphalosauruses turn toward the noise.
ANGLE - CAVE MOUTH
There stand the "TAR-LUMP" comprised of our four
stuck-together dinosaurs. They roar in harmony again. They
charge into the cave as the horrified Pachycelphalosauruses
“Scatter. Thunderfoot (acting as the mouth of the beast)
bends down and snatches Cera's tail in his jaws. Lifting
her upside-down off the ground as she twists and kicks,
‘punching her front legs into the air in futile self defense.
Seeing that the "Beast" is preoccupied with Cera, the PACH ©
brothers flee.
CERA
Help! Help me! Spike! Ducky!
Petrie! Hellllllp!
From somewhere near the middle of this bolbous creature, we
hear Ducky's muted voice.
, bucky
Cera! It is usi¢y(\igy
3 aes |
Still hung upsidebdowh' in mid-air, Cera stops squirming.
She rotates herself around to look at his big black
creature. From under the tar, she sees the eyes and smile
of Ducky, Petrie, Thunderfoot and Spike.
ANGLE - CERA
reacting: first relief, and then a new kind of fury. She
yanks her tail from Thunderfoot's mouth and drops to the
cave floor, scooting back to her feet, struggling to save
face. : ;
; CERA
I knew that! I knew it was you all
along. I knew. I did. ,
Thunderfoot grins down at her.
DUCKY
You did? But you screamed so loud.
CERA-
I was acting scared so those
scaley~skins would come into the cave
and then I'd attack them.
CONTINUED
57
DUCKY
(disbelieving)
Nope, nope, nope...
CERA
Oh get out of my way!
Cera squeezes past the stuck-together group and heads for
the mouth of the cave. She doesn't see that she has now got
the tar stuck to her. As she exits, it stretches out like
bubble gum, still attached to the others. It yanks her back
inside and she slams into the sticky group. They all laugh,
except Cera.
DUCKY ©
We really together now!
THUNDERFOOT
Yeah, Cera now we have to stick
together.
madder. She pulls herself free of Fhe \tar beast, and more
All the kids are giggling and eof Enf\eer > makes Cera even
.f£Rres at them with both
angry than she's ever been before?
barrels. GOP
uN
Oh.. _shut "1 ur Pt hate you! I hate all
of you...I rate you! I hate you! I
hate you! I don't ever want to see
any of you again... ever !
She stamps out of the cave, off into the dark. There is a
low rumble of .thunder, and it begins to rain. Cleaning the
sticky tar off the children. The children aren't laughing
any more. Ducky feels bad and starts to walk after Cera.
. THUNDERFOOT
Let her go. We can't keep chasing
after her.
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 016 "THE REX ATTACKS"
The group excitedly races up the path. All are giggling and
. filled with anticipation.
; THUNDERFOOT
We're almost there, just a little
further.
CONTINUED
ye
et
58
. ; PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(We're here.. ‘we're here. )
DUCKY
Yes Petrie, we're here, we've made
it. Thunderfoot you were right.
They giggle as they finish rounding the shore line of a pool
that leads to the cliffs by the entrance. Petrie leaps off
_of Thunderfoot's head and commences climbing as fast as his
little legs can carry him, to the top edge of the plateau
where he stops. Thunderfoot and the others catch up only to
notice Petrie frozen in terror.
THUNDERFOOT
Petrie what is it?
Petrie is unable to answer. Thunderfoot slowly raises his
neck over the edge and softly gasps. There, high up on the
plateau overlooking the Great Valley, is the Rex. He is
hunting for the entrance.
DUCKY
It's Sharptooth. What'll we do?
What? What?
THUNDERFOOT G
(regretfully) “
at the
we
He wants to get \Herds and we
led him here.
So
Thunderfoot notices a large boulder precariously propped up
on a rock ledge, high above a pool of water. His face
brightens with an idea.
THUNDERFOOT
We've got to get Sharptooth away from
the high rocks before he finds the
entrance. We'll have to kill him.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(Kill him?) |
DUCKY
He's too big. .
. THUNDERFOOT
Not if we work together... |
PETRIE -
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE. ?
(How? )
CONTINUED
359
DUCKY
We're only little.
THUNDERFOOT
We'll coax him to. the deep end of the
pond. He can't swim with those
scrawny arms Look! Spike and me will
go up there...we'll push that big
rock off on to his head. He'll fall
over into the water.
DUCKY
Oh he will be mad. He will.
THUNDERFOOT
(to Petrie)
Petrie, you whistle when he's in just
the right spot...where the water gets .
dark... Now we “need someone,.to” be
the bait. af 4 ae one
ot (ao yo
In unison they all look’ at bukey. She takes a step back and.
stares at their challenging faces.
DUCKY
Me? Oh no... nope, nope, nope.
ayo -
ANGLE - _ENTRANCE OF GREAT VALLEY !
Rex enters sniffing. . .- pauses ‘and growls. As he starts
forward he is distracted from behind by a noise (Ducky has
been pushed onto the scene). He whips around and sees Ducky
acting as if she were wounded. She turns and limps down the
slope of the plateau towards the water. The Rex lets out a
raging growl and pursues.
CUT To:
Thunderfoot and Spike ready behind the boulder.
| THUNDERFOOT
(calling out to O.S. Petrie)
(loud whisper)
Get ready Petrie!
(A very nervous Petrie signals from a crevice on the cliff
wall high above the pool where Ducky is to lead the Rex.
CUT TO:
CONTINUED
60
Ducky leaps into the pool, and swims as fast as she can.
The Rex charges into the water at full force, sending up
jets of water spray.
Slowly, Thunderfoot and Spike push the rock forward with
Spike acting as a wedge in between pushes.
With the Rex, on her tail, Ducky swims directly over the
deepest, darkest part of the pool. Rex advances right up to
the water's shallow edge and stands.
Frantically Petrie begins to whistle his signal. Spike and
Thunderfoot shove the huge boulder to the cliff's edge, but
it wedges itself tight and won't budge.
The Rex notices Petrie, turns and charges Petrie who is
still whistling his signals. The rock wall Petrie is
standing on begins to topple as Rex pounds at the wall with
his head and tail. Ducky tries in vain to divert the Rex's
‘attention. . %
Thunderfoot and Spike struggle abibatdeery to push the
boulder. Petrie scr fallS as the rocks beneath his
feet descend. Frant
Petrie forgets his fear and dive-bombs the Rex who is now
Closing in on Ducky. He attacks the Rex's head, pecking
like a machine gun. The Rex snaps at him and misses.
Petrie loops high and dives again. Thunderfoot screams...
THUNDERFOOT
; (calling out)
Get him in position, Petrie!
Petrie continues to dive and hits the Rex's face only
moments before Ducky would have been swallowed. The Rex
_reels blindly as the little pterodactyl clings like a mad
octopus with one wing securely wrapped over the Rex's one
good eye. .
Ina mad frenzy the Rex butts and scraps his head and face
against the rocks trying to pry Petrie off.
- PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(Now! Now!)
DUCKY
Now!
CUT TO:
CONTINUED
All look on as the writhing Spas!
ithe
61
Thunderfoot and Spike frantically pushing the rock.
Rex reels and bucks. The tenacious grip of little Petrie
begins to weaken. Rex starts to regain his vision. He
charges forward in an attempt to smash the puny winged
creature.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE!
(Noooowww! )
Petrie's long scream is broken by the distant and quickly
advancing battle cry of Cera.
CERA
(screaming)
Aaaaargh!
Thunderfoot and Spike strain every muscle just as Cera
smashes the stubborn boulder loose, sending it crashing down
on the murderous head of the beast who buckles under its
tremendous shock and collapses with,a gigantic splash.
the Rex, bubbling, as it
k water.
sinks deeper and deeper into Soe
. am op EY ;
« tk . . :
Each turns to the\otiten, with expressions of awe, mixed with
gratitude. They fer a team. But something is
missing...one of their members. Suddenly they all realize
that none of them saw Petrie escape.
CUT TO:
SEQUENCE 017 "INTO THE VALLEY"
The Battle of Triumph is a costly business, and none knew it
so well'as the four travellers who had lost their courageous
little friend, Petrie, defeating the great Sharptooth. As
they gaze into the bubbling water below, they feel a deep
sadness.
DUCKY
Poor, poor,. Petrie.
After a long silence, Thunderfoot finally takes command.
THUNDERFOOT
Petrie was a good friend. He would
want us to go on...Come.
The little group turns and moves sadly to the entrance of
the Great Valley. They stop, there is an ever so faint
cough. Ducky turns first to see a very soggy Petrie pulling
himself onto the rocks. ;
CONTINUED
62
CUT TO:
'. PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(Wait...you no go without Petrie?)
; DUCKY
(screaming with delight)
Petrrriiiee...you're safe. Yep, yep,
yep. _
}
All the children suddenly come together in a triumphant
huddle, licking and embracing each other.
THUNDERFOOT
-Now we'll always be together.
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE.
(How long?)
DUCKY, ¢%,
CERA
Forever!
Togethers \
ey
eh
4,
ae)
Our gang reaches the edge of the Mesa and stops. Gazing
down, they stand side by side as their mouths drop open in
awe. ,
CUT TO:
ANGLE - THE GREAT VALLEY - OUR DINOSAURS' POV
It is nothing short of breath-taking. After so many years
of bleakness and suffering, this looks like Eden,
Shangri-La, a glimpse of heaven-on-earth. It is filled with
rich, luscious trees covered with thick green leaves and all
kinds of fruit. The entire Valley is carpeted in luxuriant
emerald grass: there are fresh pools of diamond-clear water
everywhere. And all of the herds are here, peacefully
co-existing. The land is too beautiful. The treasures too
bountiful for there to be any need for hostility or war.
The song the dinosaurs are singing is the same one
Thunderfoot heard after he saw the vision of his Mother in
the clouds. The MUSIC SOARS TO MATCH THE MOOD.
ANGLE - OUR GROUP
charges down the hillside into the Valley, racing toward the
family reunions they have so-long dreamed of..
_ CONTINUED
63
There is a glistening pool of water through which the
children plunge, then pull themselves onto the soft meadow
grass and their new home.
-ANGLE DUCKY
in the pond with her family. They cannot believe what she
is saying, as she points to Spike.
DUCKY
Can we adopt him Pappa? Can we?
Huh? Huh?
PAPPA
(still unsure)
Well......
DUCKY
Please...he is my best. friend!
Spike sitting along the bank fi8%} utidenly surrounded by
Ducky's brothers and sistens\ wh & Pull Spike into the pond.
with them. He' s 5 yk ores
. \
‘ANGLE =~ CERA
as she spots her large family, head down she charges towards .
them, ready to greet them by butting their heads. At the
last instant Cera slows down into a much graceful and
daintily walk. Suddenly, out of the brush she gets butted
from all. sides by half a dozen playful little TRICERATOPSES.
(Like a pinball machine. )
ANGLE =~ THUNDERFOOT
runs towards his grandparents who have spotted him. Tears
run down.their wrinkled faces. They embrace, entwining
their necks, nuzzling one another.
ANGEL - PETRIE
PETRIE'S MOTHER |
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE
(Little Petrie come all the way
alone?)
PETRIE
WHISTLE, WHISTLE, WHISTLE,
(Mamma. ..look! )
CONTINUED
64
The little bird hold out his wings proudly, flaps them and
rises into the air. Mamma Pterodactyl grabs her baby and
smothers him with kisses.
ANGLE - CERA
She turns and gazes up at the hilltop at Thunderfoot. Daddy
Topps observes a change in his daughter.
CERA
He's my best friend.
DADDY TOPPS
(taken aback)
A long-neck?
CERA
No....Thunderfoot...we did it
together.
DADDY TOPRS
Together? __... Ves
LL cera
Together, Daddy.
ANGLE - HILLTOP - THUNDERFOOT SUNSET
Thunderfoot stands proudly on the hilltop overlooking the
‘Great Valley, the blazing sun setting behind him. For a
moment the multi-colored clouds blow a familiar shape -
Thunderfoot's Mother smiling down on them all.
THE END
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